Save Article

Hong Kong's Vote for Democracy

Updated May 27, 1998 12:01 a.m. ET

Facing torrential rains, a record 1.5 million people armed themselves with umbrellas, rolled up their pant legs and went out to vote last Sunday, a whopping 50% increase over the last elections, in 1995. The Hong Kong weather wasn't the only impediment, either. The government appointed by Beijing after China took over the city from Britain last year had devised a confusing electoral system designed to limit the participation of pro-democracy forces in the 60-seat Legislative Council (Legco).